Spell Weaver [Book 2 Complete]

“All right, come on, come on. Hurry up, before he gets here,” Mark urged the group.

Alex couldn’t help but give his friend a questioning look as he entered the gym. “Before I get here?” Before Mark could respond, he paused just inside the space and looked around. “Wait, where did the gym go?”

The black, rubberized floor was still present, but almost all the weight-lifting equipment had been moved, leaving the room almost completely bare. The only things in the room now were a large table and chairs surrounding it.

“I asked Edwin to help with the funds I got from the Celestial Rift, and we’re going to create a small addition on the new property to build a proper gym, one that we can actually use with our Awakened stats.”

“Okay,” he said, waiting for an explanation.

“This is going to be our team planning room!” Mark held out his arms with excitement. “When you said you wanted to do the titles today, I figured this would be the perfect place to do it.”

Alex walked deeper into the room and rubbed his hand on the beautiful wooden table. It was at least fifteen feet in diameter and had a stone setting in the middle. “What’s with this table?”

From his recent experience replacing the nice furniture in his office, he knew things like this were expensive, and this was larger than anything he’d contemplated purchasing. The outer ring of the table and the solid, matching chairs took up most of the space.

“It’s our ‘Round Table,’” Mark said with an infectious grin.

Alex face-palmed. “Now I see what’s got you so giddy.”

“Isn’t it awesome?”

Sarah and Sam were snickering from their seats as they watched the interaction.

“How did you even get this thing? We’ve only been home for like three days.”

“Oh, come on,” Sarah said. “You know, since the moment you told us about this, he’s been chomping at the bit. From the moment Sam said something about the Knights Round Table, he couldn’t let it go.”

Mark lowered his head guiltily. “I stepped out and asked Edwin to help. So it got here this morning.”

Alex glanced at Edwin, who suddenly found the rafters fascinating, which made Gabby cover her mouth to stifle a laugh. Shaking his head, Alex motioned for Mark to join the others.

One chair was clearly higher-backed than the others. Alex intentionally avoided sitting in it, instead opting to sit next to Mark.

Edwin stepped up beside him and set his laptop on the table.

“Thanks. Everyone else, take a seat too, please.”

Gabby, Edwin, and Lin sat down on the far side of Sam, the natural curve of the table allowing them to easily see Alex.

“Gabby, did Edwin fill you in on the titles?” When she nodded, he continued. “Okay, good. Look… since we joined the Guild, I’ve continually said I don’t want to start a group of my own. Managing a group seems like a headache and a bunch of social stuff that I’d rather avoid. But it would be naïve to keep saying that. It’s pretty clear that’s where things are heading, even if it wasn’t my purpose to begin with.

“There are just too many reasons not to join the HA or another newly formed guild. The biggest among them is my desire to chase my own goals and magic. My hope is to create a place that my friends can do the same.” He looked around the table and saw several bobbing heads. “Without making this too long-winded, I want to start organizing things so that I don’t have to deal with the management and interpersonal stuff that comes with management. So, before we get into positions and titles, there are two points to discuss. The first is that the oaths are binding. And I mean that in a more serious way than legally binding; they’re enforced by the System itself. There’s absolutely no pressure to take one of these oaths. You won’t lose your position or any respect from me if you decide not to.” This point was mainly for Edwin and Gabby, who hadn’t yet seen the power of the oath like the others had.

“The second is something that Maelis has continued to try and drill into my head.” He couldn’t resist rolling his eyes a bit. Not because the advice was poor, just because of the grumpy mentor’s insistence. “I need to give these appointments and titles with a strategic mindset. That means you guys might not be in the highest position possible, and it’s not anything personal.”

From the corner of his eye, he saw Sarah nodding her head.

“That’s really it. Any questions?” he asked the table.

The faces looking back at him were serious, and he was glad to see Mark and Gabby taking it so seriously. Their natural tendency to be goofy and relieve tension wouldn’t have a place in such an occasion.

When no one asked for more information, Alex stood and said, “Mark, you’re up first, dude.”

His friend moved to stand in front of him as everyone else turned in their seats to watch.

Alex activated the [Planetary Title] skill and pulled the glowing card from his chest. The golden light illuminated the room and lent a gravity to the situation that he felt settle on his shoulders. Mark’s features were firm, and his face was serious as he watched the card.

“Mark Thompson, I give you this hand-made carving in offering of your service.”

“I give you this card to represent my position,” Mark said, proffering a hand-painted tarot card with the image of a king holding a sword on a throne.

Alex raised an eyebrow, but accepted it as he handed over the small statue he’d carved for each of his friends. He caught Mark’s smile as he observed the carved crystal before giving his part of the oath.

"I, Alex Moore, holder of the Magician Title, give to you my word. I will treat you with the rights afforded to all who swear their allegiance to me.

“I swear not to harm you unless you break this oath or act in betrayal of its intent.

“I will not bind you beyond this oath, nor command you without purpose.

“I will protect you from those who would seek to bind, enslave, or destroy you for standing by my side."

He’d decided to give everyone the same oath, Lin’s being an exception because of her prior circumstances.

Red tinted Mark’s neck and cheeks as he said the returning lines.

"I swear to serve Alex Moore, bearer of the Magician's Title.

“I swear not to bring harm, sabotage, or betray him or those under his protection.

“I will carry out my duties to the best of my ability and will not act against his goals while in his service.

“I will not disobey a direct order that weighs the balance of a life."

Just as before, Alex felt something click into place within his chest, and a System window appeared.